Farming exposure and asthma phenotypes:In mice and men

Although several studies have shown that farmers and people with agricultural-related occupations have a higher risk of developing lung diseases such as nonallergic asthma, chronic bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it has also been shown that exposure to the farm environment is associated with a protective effect on the development of atopy and allergic asthma.In this thesis, both effects of farm exposures on the immune system were studied: the protective effect against allergic asthma and the induction of non-allergic asthma. These studies were conducted among agricultural workers, and in mouse models of allergic and nonallergic lung disease. In addition, the presence of several macrophage phenotypes in animal models of allergic and non-allergic asthma was investigated, as well as the effects of exposure to farm dust extract on a macrophage cell line.This thesis demonstrated that occupational exposure to a farm environment and exposure to farm dust extracts in mice lead to a shift in the immune system towards non-allergic inflammation. This shift offers on the one hand protection against development of allergic diseases, such as allergic asthma, but is also associated with the risk of nonallergic asthma development. In addition, this thesis shows that, within the various phenotypes asthma, various inflammatory mediators and cells are important in the development and severity of airway hyperresponsiveness

BRAZILIAN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE ON INFORMATION SECURITY: A LITERATURE REVIEW

An extensive literature review on the organizational culture in Brazil is presented and compared to the information security culture, in the past decade. This article is provided scholars with a new perspective and taxonomy on the case study analysis, and implications of these findings are discussed, as part of the master’s thesis from one of the authors (Vieira, 2008). Recommendations for future investigation and discussion compile the present work

Hybrid molecular dynamic Monte Carlo simulation and experimental production of a multi-component Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W alloy

ABSTRACT: High-entropy alloys are a class of materials intensely studied in the last years due to their innovative properties. Their unconventional compositions and chemical structures hold promise for achieving unprecedented combinations of mechanical properties. The Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent alloy was studied using a combination of simulation and experimental production to test the possibility of formation of a simple solid solution. Therefore, Molecular Dynamics and hybrid Molecular Dynamic/Monte Carlo simulations from 10K up to the melting point of the alloy were analyzed together with the experimental production by arc furnace and powder milling. The Molecular Dynamics simulations starting with a bcc type-structure show the formation of a singlephase bcc solid solution type-structure, whereas using Monte Carlo one, generally produced a two-phase mixture. Moreover, the lowest potential energy was obtained when starting from a fcc type-structure and using Monte Carlo simulation giving rise to the formation of a bcc Fe-Mo-W phase and a Cu-Ni fcc type-structure. Dendritic and interdendritic phases were observed in the sample produced by arc furnace while the milled powder evidence an separation of two phases Cu-Fe-Ni phase and W-Mo type-structures. Samples produced by both methods show the formation of bcc and a fcc type-structures. Therefore, the Monte Carlo simulation seems to be closer with the experimental results, which points to a two-phase mixture formation for the Cu-Fe-Ni-Mo-W multicomponent system.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

MEDIATION & DISPUTE BOARD RESOLUTION: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

In this article, we investigated the existing knowledge on Mediation, Dispute Resolution, and Dispute Boardaiming to map the subjects' evolution during the last century through collaborative networks. N = 3,230 publication records were extracted from Scopus and Google Scholar databases through keyword searching, resulting in approximately two million citations. We performed a bibliometric analysis, including text network, citation, trend, and content analysis, revealing themes in the field. The findings are helpful to scholars, students, leaders, and other practitioners, to gain a deeper understanding of the timeline, geographical spread, and development of the subjects. A careful content analysis revealed that the scholarly research revolves mainly around three themes: Mediation, Dispute Resolution, and Dispute Board. Furthermore, the number of citations on the subjects has tripled in the last two decades and is expected to double in the coming decades. Additionally, this paper makes suggestions for further investigation

Wood-plastic composite based on post-consumer HDPE and vermiculite / Compósito madeira-plástico à base de HDPE pós-consumo e vermiculita

In this work, wood plastic-composites (WPCs) were prepared by the incorporation of vermiculite in the post-consumer HDPE. The processing of WPCs with different clay contents (2, 5 and 10% by weight) was carried out in a mono-extruder. The specimens were obtained by compression and characterized by density (ASTM D792), hardness (ASTM D2240) and melt flow index (MFI, ASTM D1238). The composites obtained showed a tendency of increased density and reduced MFI from 5% clay. However, no significant difference in WPC hardness was observed in relation to the matrix. 

GASTRIC CARCINOMA WITH OSSEOUS METAPLASIA IN A DOG

This report describes an unprecedented case of a gastric carcinoma with osseous metaplasia in a 8-year-old male standard poodle. An exploratory laparotomy revealed a firm yellowish nodular mass in the pyloric region. The lesion was surgically removed and submitted for current histological examination. Immunohistochemistry was performed employing monoclonal antibodies for pan-cytokeratin, vimentin, smooth muscular a-actin and BMP-2/4. The mass consisted in neoplastic proliferation of epithelial cells, arranged in a tubular or acinar pattern and supported by scirrhous stroma, with mucin production and multiple foci of heterotopic ossification. Neoplastic epithelial cells showed strong positive immunostaining for AE1/AE3 and BMP-2/4, although they were negative for both vimentin and a-actin. Histopathological findings suggested that the bone tissue may be primarily originated from neoplastic epithelial cells which directly circumscribe the osseous metaplasia foci

Feeding level to pacamã fingerling (Lophiosilurus alexandri)/ Nível de alimentação para alevinos de pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri)

The present work is aimed to determine the best feeding level to pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri) fingerlings at performance, survival, and body parameters. One hundred One hundred and twenty five fingerlings with mean body weight of 3.57±0.05g were used and distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates during 30 days. The treatments were five feeding levels: 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% of body weight day-1 of to pacamã fingerlings fish, were feeding twice times daily, 08h00 and 18h00. The diet contained 57,28% crude protein and 3.405,98 Kcal kg-1 gross energy. Water temperature ranging of27.3°C to 28.6°C, and dissolved oxygen was 5.0 mg/L. A quadratic effect (P<0.01) was observed to final weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, and final length. Survival, carcass yield, carcass without head yield, height, head length parameters no showed difference (P>0.05) in function of feeding level. Feeding level of 9.5 % of body weight is recommending to pacamã fingerlings

Fermentation of a Pollen Substitute Diet with Beebread Microorganisms Increases Diet Consumption and Hemolymph Protein Levels of Honey Bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Pollen substitute diets have become increasingly important for maintaining strong and healthy honey bee colonies. Palatability and nutritional value are key attributes of a good diet. Since beebread, which is pollen fermented by the bees, is the main food of the worker nurse bees that feed and care for the bee larvae, pollen substitutes should have similar attributes. In an attempt to simulate this natural food source, an inoculum prepared from beebread was used to ferment a pollen-substitute diet. Newly emerged bees were fed on the diets for seven days. They consumed significantly more fermented than unfermented diet. Hemolymph protein levels were significantly higher in bees that had been fed a fermented versus an unfermented diet, though still significantly lower than in bees fed on beebread. Vitellogenin (a key storage protein for honey bees) levels were also increased significantly in bees fed the fermented versus the non-fermented diet. Survival rates were higher for bees fed the fermented versus the non-fermented diet, though the difference was not significant. We conclude that fermentation by beebread-derived microorganisms can improve the acceptance and utility of an artificial protein diet for honey bees

Toxicity of neem oil to Bemisia tabaci biotype B nymphs reared on dry bean

O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o estágio ninfal de Bemisia tabaci biótipo B mais suscetível ao óleo de nim (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) aplicado em feijoeiro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), em casa telada. Foram avaliados o tempo letal (TL) e concentração letal (CL) do óleo comercial de sementes de nim Dalneem. Para CL, concentrações de 0, 0,1, 0,25, 0,5, 1 e 2% do produto foram pulverizadas diretamente sobre as ninfas em cada ínstar. Para TL, o produto foi avaliado a 0, 0,5 e 1% de óleo de nim em cada ínstar. Ninfas vivas e mortas foram contadas cinco dias após a pulverização para CL e diariamente para TL durante seis dias. Para o quarto ínstar, a CL50 foi de 0,56% de óleo de nim. Considerando todos os ínstares, CL50 e CL95 foram estimadas em 0,32 e 2,78% de óleo de nim, respectivamente. Os TL50 para 1% de nim foram estimados em 2,46, 4,45, 3,02 e 6,98 dias para o primeiro, segundo, terceiro e quarto ínstares, respectivamente. Os TL50 estimados para 0,5 e 1% de óleo de nim foram de cinco e quatro dias, respectivamente, considerando todos os ínstares. No sexto dia, foi observada mortalidade superior a 80% para o primeiro, segundo e terceiro ínstares a 1% de óleo de nim. Os três primeiros ínstares foram mais suscetíveis ao óleo de nim que o quarto ínstar.The objective of this work was to determine the most susceptible nymphal stage of Bemisia tabaci biotype B to neem (Azadirachta indica A. Juss.) oil applied to dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in a screenhouse. A solution of commercial oil (Dalneem) extracted from neem seeds was sprayed directly on each nymphal instar at 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2% concentrations for lethal concentration (LC) determination, and at 0, 0.5 and 1% concentrations for lethal time (LT) determination. The number of living and dead nymphs was recorded five days after spraying for LC determination, and daily during six days for LT determination. The LC50 estimated for fourth instar nymphs occurred at 0.56% concentration. For all instars, LC50 and LC95 were estimated at 0.32 and 2.78% concentrations, respectively. The estimated values of LT50 at 1% concentration were 2.46, 4.45, 3.02 and 6.98 days for the first to fourth instars, respectively. The LT50 occurred at five days for 0.5% and at four days for 1% concentration in all instars. A mortality rate of over 80% was observed on the 6th day for the first to third instars at 1% concentration. The first three nymphal stages were more susceptible to neem oil when compared to the fourth nymphal stage